Find out how popular the last name Tolson is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Tolson.

Tolson, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Tolson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Tolson in America

Tolson is the 6093rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Tolson surname appeared 5,630 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Tolson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Tolson to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Tolson

The surname Tolson has its roots in the Old English language and is believed to have originated in Yorkshire, England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from a now lost or unidentified place name. Some scholars suggest it may have evolved from a combination of the Old English words "tol," meaning tax or toll, and "tun," meaning enclosure or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Tolson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, and they mention individuals with the surname Tolson who were likely landowners or taxpayers in the region.

In the 13th century, the Tolson surname appears in various Yorkshire charters and land records, indicating that the family had established itself as a respected lineage in the area. One notable example is a charter from 1240 that mentions a Robert de Tolson, who was likely a landowner or prominent figure in the local community.

The Tolson surname continued to be prevalent in Yorkshire throughout the medieval and early modern periods. Notable individuals bearing this name include William Tolson (1542-1616), a renowned English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Oxford and the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield.

During the 17th century, the Tolson family expanded its influence beyond Yorkshire. John Tolson (1605-1690) was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1663 to 1675.

In the 18th century, Thomas Tolson (1718-1792) was a respected English architect and surveyor known for his work on several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Wakefield Court House and the Wakefield Prison.

Another notable figure was George Tolson (1790-1856), a British naval officer and explorer who is credited with mapping and charting significant portions of the Australian coastline during his voyages in the early 19th century.

As the Tolson surname spread across England and beyond, it became associated with various occupations and professions. While the name's exact origins remain unclear, its longevity and historical significance are rooted in the Yorkshire region, where it first emerged as a locational surname during the Middle Ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Tolson

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Tolson.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Tolson was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Tolson has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Tolson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Tolson, please contact us.

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